Behind the Ad: The NRA comes to the aid of Sen. Ayotte

By Richard K. Barry

(Another installment in our extensive "Behind the Ad" series.)

Who: The National Rifle Association.

Where: New Hampshire.

What's going on: Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) was the only Northeastern senator to vote against the background check plan, which was an integral part of the gun legislation defeated in the Senate.

She is planning three town hall meetings soon and will likely be confronted by angry demonstrators along the way. While she is not up for reelection for three years, many critics are promising to work against her.

According to one:

"I have worked on a lot of issue campaigns in this state and I've never seen this level of natural momentum on any issue," said Judy Stadtman, a founder of Project for Safer Communities N.H., which is one of several liberal groups working together across the state to track the senator this week.

But she does have friends, notably the National Rifle Association. They began airing radio ads on Monday that criticize politicians who only "care about their power," instead of the safety of their children.

Seems like a pretty weak position, which is not where the NRA is used to finding itself.

As for Senator Ayotte, I'd be worried if I were her.

Listen to the NRA ad:



(Cross-posted at Phantom Public.)